The Ultimate Product Prototyping Quiz

New products regularly appear on the market, but we rarely take the time to consider the processes behind the appearance of a product. Answer this quiz and learn about the prototyping processes.

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Question 1 of 20

What are the major phases a product goes through before appearing on the market?

invention, feasibility check and marketing

design, prototyping and production

The major steps are: the design phase, the prototyping phase and the production phase.

prototyping, transportation and packaging

Question 2 of 20

What is a prototype?

first new product off the assembly line

computer projection of financial feasibility

model of a new product

It is a model of a new product used to visualize what the final product will be like.

Question 3 of 20

If you have an idea for a new product, what should the first stage of the design process be?

basic market research

You need to do basic market research, such as what is unique about it, how and where to manufacture, cost etc.

apply for a patent

publish the idea to check response

Question 4 of 20

What is the major importance of a prototype?

to impress investors

to show how the item works

It shows how the item in question works.

to get a patent

Question 5 of 20

If the invention refers only to part of an existing system, do you need to replicate the entire system?

definitely

only if there is a potential health hazard

just the relevant part of the system

In the early stages it is usually sufficient to have a working prototype of the relevant section of the system.

Question 6 of 20

As soon as you are ready to begin the actual design of the product how do you begin?

have a 3-D design made

This is when you turn to a professional industrial designer, who will produce a 3-D design of the product.

prepare a PowerPoint presentation

send a memo to your investors

Question 7 of 20

What software is used for 3-D design?

any sophisticated graphics software

any 3-D software

computer-aided design software

CAD (computer-aided design) software is normally used.

Question 8 of 20

What advantage does CAD software have?

no advantage

shows parts in motion

CAD software commonly allows designers to see all the parts in motion, simulating how they will operate. 3-D software shows a realistic static view of the object.

industrial designers don't use any other software

Question 9 of 20

How does the CAD software relate to changes in one element of the design?

It will alter the other specs and automatically integrate them into the design.

An adjustment to any particular part of your product will alter the other dimension's specs accordingly and automatically integrate that change into the overall prototype design.

Warns you that other specs need to be changed.

It is not designed to deal with changes during the design process.

Question 10 of 20

Okay, you have the final 3-D design on paper and a computer generated simulation on screen. What next?

look for a manufacturer

finalize funding

create some form of prototype

This is a complicated issue and depends on the exact nature of your creation. If it is something small and inexpensively manufactured you may want to have an actual item made as your prototype, but if it is more complicated and expensive, you will probably consider a 3-D printing process.

Question 11 of 20

Why should you go to the trouble of creating a prototype of a relatively simple safe item?

It is the accepted norm in the manufacturing process

People relate better to something tangible.

If you need funding, investors will better understand what the item will really look like and what it does, if you show them an actual item instead of printed plans, no matter how lifelike they may appear.

Prototypes are a legal requirement.

Question 12 of 20

What is rapid prototyping?

a machine that makes 3-D models

In a very broad sense it refers to various machines that make 3-D models.

quick manufacture of a model

paper-based 3-D models

Question 13 of 20

How does laminated object manufacturing work?

Lasers melt layers of thermoplastic powder and other materials like polymers.

An electron beam is used to melt layers of metal powder.

Shapes are cut with lasers and glued to the layer below.

Sheets of material are cut in the desired shape with lasers and glued to the layer below.

Question 14 of 20

What is a major problem with rapid prototyping?

Models are extremely fragile.

Costs can be very high.

The process and equipment costs are very expensive. A large model could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Health hazard posed by materials used.

Question 15 of 20

Why would you want to build a prototype of something like a drill casing?

to test for design flaws

You need to test for design flaws that could cause safety problems.

for use in advertisements

to check color schemes

Question 16 of 20

Is time really a factor in product development?

Not at all consumers are always wary of the first new product on the market.

The only relevant factor is the amount of preliminary advertising.

Consumers tend to buy good new products and develop brand loyalty.

Consumers will pay more for a good product that is first on the market, they'll tend to develop stronger brand loyalties for it and you'll make a lot more money.

Question 17 of 20

What is the most important type of testing of your prototype.

color choice

safety

Any safety issues must be dealt with, proper safety warnings need to be displayed and precise instructions need to be included

shelf life

Question 18 of 20

What do you need to test regarding the end-user of the product?

Check the instructions can be understood easily.

You need to be sure and that the customer can figure out how to make it work.

Make sure all the accessories are included.

Make the opening of the container easy.

Question 19 of 20

What should you do if there are dangers involved in use of this type of product?

Don't market it.

Provide explicit labels and precise instructions.

Label the product accordingly and make the warnings very clear in the instructions.

Employ frequent media campaigns.

Question 20 of 20

What is the common factor of different forms of additive fabrication in 3-D model manufacturing?

All use some form of metal.

All use lasers to remove superfluous material.

All join fine layers of material to create the 3-D model.

They all join extremely fine layers of material onto each 3-D creation, layer by layer, until they have a finished prototype.